ianisme said...They dubbed it into American !!!! Thats so pathetic. Are they seriously suggesting Americans would not understand an Aussie accent, or were they trying to appeal more to the home market?

The former. They thought American audiences wouldn't understand the accents or the slang. For example, in the radio chatter that goes on in the background of the chase scene at the beginning of the movie, one of the policeman states that the Night Rider went berserk and killed a "probie" (i.e. a probationary police officer.) In the dubbed American version this was changed to "rookie" which is what we call a newly-recruited cop. Other parts were also dubbed and had slight changes made to the slang so that American audiences would understand it.

I don't really agree with their decision. While it's true some non-US anglophone slang seems odd to hear, we can generally figure out what it means by the context, if nothing else.

The "special edition" version of the DVD that you can buy now actually has both soundtracks on it, as well as having both the widescreen and the regular screen versions, so if you rent it, you can listen yourself and compare the two.

Note: Speaking of non-American anglophone slang, I read the book "Bravo Two Zero" by Andy McNab and had a very difficult time with the Brit slang he used. "Chuffed", "bone", "Rupert" "slot" and several other terms I had to divine just from the context in which they appeared. I think later versions of the book actually had a glossary.

Martin

Denver, CO

"They were long, and low, and sleek, and fast, they were Classic, in a word

Talking of dumbing stuff down for American audiences...who else here has actually read any of the "Harry Potter" books? Did you read "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," or "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?" The latter is the US-only version (thankfully we got the original British version here in Canada). I assume the American publishers were afraid American kids wouldn't be bright enough to figure out the British colloquialisms.

BTW, one of my riding buddies is "Bubba Zanetti" on another motorcycle forum...

I actualy recently watched the mad max trillogy for the first time. Not realizing that one of the movies was a re-release we watched Road Warrior first, then Mad Max and then thunderdome based on the release dates on the tapes (yes, we borrowed them on VHS, had to digout the VCR).

That is hard to believe Ian. I did not realize that some so called brains in the movie world felt Americans could not catch onto the Aussie slang & lingo. When you think if it that is so darn funny.

I have two aussie friends. Both are honest to gosh working cow-pokes. They do the same over in Australia during our cold season & are here in our summer time. It takes a few minutes to get accustom to their dialict though sometimes I am lost if it is a cattleman slang word & all I need do is ask & they are willing to explain it to the sort of city like Cdn. After all I am the crazy bastard that rides one of those crazy motorcycles yet poor bugger tried to be a ruddy fruit orchardist.

Well if any of you folks need translation services, then feel free to ask. For the record Martin....

1. Chuffed = very happy2. Bone = depending on the context, but probably means to have sex with3. Rupert = derogatory term used by enlisted soldiers to mean an officer. Derived from many officers coming from the upper classes, which is the only class likely to lumber their sons with a name like "Rupert"!4. slot = kill somebody.

brian93cbr900rr said...]does anyone besides me love the first mad max???i totally wanted to be toecutter,without having to kill...lol

That movie always drove me nuts with the supercharger he could turn on and off. That would have been one rather large clutch, the clutch on an A/C compressor only has to handle like 2-3 hp, a monster supercharger something like 50 hp so it would resemble a compact car clutch.

Not very practical, but I suppose a turbo wouldn't have looked as cool.

I own all 3 on DVD, but I didn't know that American and Australian language versions both existed on them, and I honestly can't say that I watched one or the other for sure. I think I recall the term "probie" being used though.

G'dayi was recently over in the US for a few months and Mad Max was on the telly and i noticed the slight changes in dialogue as well.This "dumbing down" as you have been calling it occurs on almost all of your movies, i watched gone in 60 seconds while i was there and they change the wording to take out any kind of swear words. i found it quite annoying actually, i reken theres nothing wrong with swearing within reason of course

Are you aware there is a Mad Max IV that's been in the works for a few years (Miller/Kennedy prod.)? google Mad Max and be amazed! There are annual Mad Maxathons in Oz and the UK where fans show up in costume driving/riding MM bikes/car replicas. The origional cars (Falcons Holdens) go for millions. I'll post a pic of a dead-on Goose-replica 'Kwaka" Z. Rich history concerning the bikes (note that all Z's have "Kwaka" on the tanks). The sound recording is impeccable. The Weiand 6:71 blower actually was activated by the PTO button seen in film.

"A piece hear, a piece there...". Max: "When do we go for a RIDE?!?"

Thanks. Now I know why you're in to 'rat' bikes, Brain.

Toecutter (Hugh Keyes Berney): "We have a problem here... she is not what she seems. She was sent by the Bronze. Full of threcherty... Bubba - put 'er against the fence! Mudguts - get outta there!"...

It's "put 'er against the post". I've loved the whole mad max thing since I first saw it back in the early eighties. I always new the dialogue was dubbed, but never knew there was an aussie version still in exsistence until they started airing it on american television a few years ago. Makes it even better in some ways, but I miss the americanized version of the scene where Toecutter questions the garage owner about "that wagon"..."yep"....come through here?" ..." yeah, nice couple with a kid, left their spare, darn good one too..." toe cutter grabs him by the nose "who?" "...a couple...passin' through...said they was headed nawth...mbabee..." The sound of the mechanics voice with his nose pinched was hilarious.

P.S. That is also one reason why my handle is mistertoadie. From "The Roadwarrior" "Toadie...the gas!" "the tanks are full oh mighty one...and it's all yours..." BOOM!

I'm only happy when I'm in the wind, sometimes I wish this road would never end. So if you're lookin' for me my friend, you can find me in the wind..you can find me in the wind...

This thread IS funny! I just realized that as much as I think the 'Rocky Horror' cultists are oddballs, we're just the same! And the homoerotic overtones are just too similar (Budda Zanetti was in fact portrayed as Toe's 'boy')... Hmmmmmm

And Humongus(sp) and the ass-chap-wearin' warriors in the later Max movies.....

636Adam: have YOU seen the Max movies yet? Rent/download the first two. The Kawi-sounds are incredible!

I love all 3 movies..I am going to have to rent them again though...I never paid much attentiont to the bikes..SMAX the pic you posted with the cop on the bike,seeing the breath guard brings the whole back for me.. Is it me or does anyone else think Stephen king stole the idea for "The Stand" From this movie..